Kyle Jolly is a terrible name. It may be one of the all time worst Steeler names. Bubby Brister, Weegie Thompson, and Walter Abercrombie are laughing at his silly name. Kyle inspires confidence like a wet fart.

Paging Max Starks. Will Cracker Barrel customer Max Starks please come to the gift shop? You have a phone call.

Tony Hills acquitted himself well at left tackle after rookie Marcus Gilbert went down as well.

http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/sidelines/

papillon

08-19-2011, 09:30 AM

No matter how many times I watch a player struggle, look lost and appear to be headed out the door a rookie or second year player and then the light switch turns on in the 3rd or 4th years it still fascinates me. I would have bet a dollar to a doughnut that Tony Hills was gone this year and now we hear he's acquitting himself very well at two positions.

It really is remarkable how it takes time to develop a player and that it can be done. He appeared slow and lethargic early on in his career, now he has a mean streak and looks quick. I don't know if its Kugler, the player or both, but Hills is making this team this year and will be a swing lineman for the Steelers, at least, it looks that way.

Good for Tony Hills.

Pappy

sentinel33

08-19-2011, 09:39 AM

We should give credit to where credit is due-Sean Kugler.

What a difference.

papillon

08-19-2011, 09:48 AM

We should give credit to where credit is due-Sean Kugler.

What a difference.

You're probably right about that, but the player has to want it as well or no amount of good coaching/teaching will help. Tony Hills never seemed to have the desire to be good and now he does and maybe that's what Kugler can bring out in players, the will to be great.

Pappy

steeler_george

08-19-2011, 11:12 AM

I was looking forward mostly seeing how Hills and Gilbert play.

Wish we had more snaps to evaluate Gilberts play, he only had one full week of participating in the drills and seemed to impress. Did he show enough flash to get the attention of the coachs to earn him more playing time. Maybe Starks or Adams might not be the correct call, but to call on more of Gilbert?

RuthlessBurgher

08-19-2011, 11:31 AM

Remember when Tomlin had Tony Hills and Bruce Davis face off against each other again and again when they were rookies at their first camp, and Tomlin told them "I'm gonna make a player out of one of you." I guess that was correct.

hawaiiansteel

08-26-2011, 02:33 AM

Steelers tempting trouble along o-line

The Sports Xchange
Aug. 22, 2011

The Steelers and their already below-average offensive line got a taste of what real disaster would look like with one knee injury. It happened Thursday night when starting left tackle Jonathan Scott left the game after the first play with a right knee injury.

They had no one to replace him.

First came rookie Marcus Gilbert, who is not nearly ready to play, and he showed it in his three series of work against the Philadelphia Eagles before he also left with a knee injury. That followed a succession of would-be tackles who made Jonathan Scott look like Jonathan Ogden. Ladies and gentlemen, we introduce to you Kyle Jolly, an undrafted 2010 rookie who last played in a real game in 2009 for North Carolina.

Fortunately for the Steelers, the injury to Scott was not serious and he was expected to miss a few practices. It also was not serious to Gilbert, but he's at least a year away from playing anyway.

"We're anxious to get those guys out here," coach Mike Tomlin said, "particularly Marcus Gilbert; a young guy like him needs as many opportunities to improve as he can."

The Steelers' offensive line has seen enough turmoil without losing its starting left tackle for the second time in nine months. Max Starks' 2010 season and possibly his career ended with neck surgery last November, which is when Scott manned the position.

The next logical tackle to put there might be Tony Hills, a fourth-year player who has played little in his first three seasons. Hills, though, is competing at the moment to start at right guard. He started there in the second preseason game against Philadelphia, moved to left tackle after the two injuries, and returned to play at right guard. He did well enough that he likely will start at right guard again Saturday night vs. Atlanta.

"He's a guy who's in the mix like some others and that's what we're here for," Tomlin said. "He's represented himself well; if he continues to do that he'll continue to be given opportunities."

Saturday's game will be the last one in which the starters play a bit, and the line -- barring more injuries -- that will open the season at Baltimore Sept. 11 looks like this: Scott at left tackle, Chris Kemoeatu at left guard, Maurkice Pouncey at center, Hills or incumbent Ramon Foster at right guard and Willie Colon at right tackle.

The only holdover from the line that opened training camp a year ago is Kemoeatu. Three of the linemen who opened 2010 training camp as starters are out of football -- Starks, Flozell Adams and center Justin Hartwig. However, the injury concerns did prompt the Steelers to re-sign Trai Essex.

One of the amazing things about the Steelers is their Super Bowl berths two of the past three years came with such a poor offensive line. It has been in transition since left tackle Marvel Smith and perennial Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca left quickly in 2007-08 to injury/retirement and free agency. It took them a few years and two starters between Pro Bowl center Jeff Hartings and Pouncey, and there has been a swinging door at right guard ever since injuries forced Kendall Simmons out of football.

Pouncey is the only player they can point to right now who will be a mainstay in that offensive line. They had interest in drafting his twin brother, Mike, but he went too high in the first round to Miami; he would have played guard for the Steelers.

None of the others are prospects for a long-term spot for them in the line other than Gilbert.